Did the Maine GOP track black voters? And other questions for Mr. Webster

Charlie Webster’s remarks on purported voter fraud by black voters have hit national news outlets.

“In some parts of the state, there were dozens of black people who came in to vote,” Webster said. “Nobody in town knew them.”

Also, Webster says the Maine Republican Party will be sending postcards to “several thousand” who registered to vote on election day to see if they’re returned.

In the 2008 presidential election, over 50,000 people registered to vote on election day. I’m not sure how many did so in 2012, but the numbers should be at least that much. 50,000 is not “several thousand.”

Thus this plan raises some questions:

  • Since Webster suggests the postcards won’t go to every voter who registered on election day, how has Webster chosen to whom they’re going?
  • Was someone at various polling place tracking black voters in particular so that they will now receive the postcards?
  • If poll observers thought there was something wrong with the information presented to town clerks when new voters registered, did they challenge them? There is a process for doing so. If not, why not?
  • Where did this purportedly occur? Was it in college towns, places Webster has previously targeted?
  • Who saw these voters and where did they see them? How about a few names and places, Mr. Webster?

None of Webster’s previous claims of voter fraud have panned out. Maine is a state with clean politics, and it’s a very white state that went Democratic quite strongly in 2012. Webster hasn’t helped Republican prospects in Maine or elsewhere.

Amy Fried

About Amy Fried

Amy Fried loves Maine's sense of community and the wonderful mix of culture and outdoor recreation. She loves politics in three ways: as an analytical political scientist, a devoted political junkie and a citizen who believes politics matters for people's lives. Fried is Professor of Political Science at the University of Maine. Her views do not reflect those of her employer or any group to which she belongs.